Parallel Verses
Bible in Basic English
The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.
New American Standard Bible
The fool
King James Version
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Holman Bible
and consumes his own flesh.
International Standard Version
The fool crosses his arms and starves himself.
American Standard Version
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Amplified
The fool folds his hands [together] and consumes his own flesh [destroying himself by idleness and apathy].
Darby Translation
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Julia Smith Translation
The foolish one folded his hands together, and ate his flesh.
King James 2000
The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
Lexham Expanded Bible
{The fool refuses to work with his hands, so he has nothing to eat except his own skin}!
Modern King James verseion
The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth up his own flesh.
NET Bible
The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.
New Heart English Bible
The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
The Emphasized Bible
The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.
Webster
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
World English Bible
The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
Youngs Literal Translation
The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:
Themes
Interlinear
Yad
References
Hastings
Word Count of 19 Translations in Ecclesiastes 4:5
Verse Info
Context Readings
People Need Balance In Their Approach To Labor
4 And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind. 5 The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food. 6 One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.
Phrases
Names
Cross References
Isaiah 9:20
On the right a man was cutting off bits and was still in need; on the left a man took a meal but had not enough; no man had pity on his brother; every man was making a meal of the flesh of his neighbour.
Job 13:14
I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
Proverbs 6:10-11
A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep:
Proverbs 11:17
The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
Proverbs 12:27
He who is slow in his work does not go in search of food; but the ready worker gets much wealth.
Proverbs 13:4
The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat.
Proverbs 20:4
The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
Proverbs 24:33-34
A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep: